Electricity generation from low-carbon sources in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Electricity generation from low-carbon sources was 188.3 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
188.3 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
12th
of 214 countries
All-time high
188.3 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0.0101 terawatt-hours
in 1920
Years of data
106
1920–2025
Electricity generation from low-carbon sources in United Kingdom, 1920–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 188.3 terawatt-hours for electricity generation from low-carbon sources in 2025. That is the highest value across all 106 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from low-carbon sources in United Kingdom peaked at 188.3 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0101 terawatt-hours, in 1920.
United Kingdom ranks 12th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from low-carbon sources in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 0.0101 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1921 | 0.0101 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.0131 terawatt-hours | +30.0% |
| 1923 | 0.0151 terawatt-hours | +15.4% |
| 1924 | 0.0151 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.0151 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.0313 terawatt-hours | +106.7% |
| 1927 | 0.1089 terawatt-hours | +248.4% |
| 1928 | 0.1371 terawatt-hours | +25.9% |
| 1929 | 0.3227 terawatt-hours | +135.3% |
| 1930 | 0.4195 terawatt-hours | +30.0% |
| 1931 | 0.357 terawatt-hours | -14.9% |
| 1932 | 0.3328 terawatt-hours | -6.8% |
| 1933 | 0.4679 terawatt-hours | +40.6% |
| 1934 | 0.6303 terawatt-hours | +34.7% |
| 1935 | 0.6736 terawatt-hours | +6.9% |
| 1936 | 0.7614 terawatt-hours | +13.0% |
| 1937 | 0.9963 terawatt-hours | +30.9% |
| 1938 | 0.9903 terawatt-hours | -0.6% |
| 1939 | 0.8067 terawatt-hours | -18.5% |
| 1940 | 0.838 terawatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 1941 | 1.11 terawatt-hours | +32.0% |
| 1942 | 1.34 terawatt-hours | +21.1% |
| 1943 | 1.19 terawatt-hours | -11.5% |
| 1944 | 1.15 terawatt-hours | -2.7% |
| 1945 | 1.15 terawatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 1946 | 1.14 terawatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 1947 | 0.8884 terawatt-hours | -21.9% |
| 1948 | 0.7251 terawatt-hours | -18.4% |
| 1949 | 1.04 terawatt-hours | +43.9% |
| 1950 | 1.7 terawatt-hours | +62.6% |
| 1951 | 1.83 terawatt-hours | +7.8% |
| 1952 | 1.9 terawatt-hours | +4.0% |
| 1953 | 2.4 terawatt-hours | +26.1% |
| 1954 | 1.7 terawatt-hours | -29.0% |
| 1955 | 2.35 terawatt-hours | +37.7% |
| 1956 | 3.21 terawatt-hours | +36.9% |
| 1957 | 3.05 terawatt-hours | -5.0% |
| 1958 | 4.03 terawatt-hours | +32.1% |
| 1959 | 5.42 terawatt-hours | +34.4% |
| 1960 | 6.49 terawatt-hours | +19.8% |
| 1961 | 7.74 terawatt-hours | +19.3% |
| 1962 | 10.18 terawatt-hours | +31.5% |
| 1963 | 12.38 terawatt-hours | +21.6% |
| 1964 | 20.13 terawatt-hours | +62.5% |
| 1965 | 19.75 terawatt-hours | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 24.75 terawatt-hours | +25.4% |
| 1967 | 28.16 terawatt-hours | +13.8% |
| 1968 | 29.91 terawatt-hours | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 32.38 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 1970 | 30.55 terawatt-hours | -5.7% |
| 1971 | 30.92 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 32.75 terawatt-hours | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 31.84 terawatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 1974 | 37.69 terawatt-hours | +18.4% |
| 1975 | 34.18 terawatt-hours | -9.3% |
| 1976 | 40.69 terawatt-hours | +19.1% |
| 1977 | 43.98 terawatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 1978 | 41.3 terawatt-hours | -6.1% |
| 1979 | 42.61 terawatt-hours | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 40.98 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 42.39 terawatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 48.51 terawatt-hours | +14.4% |
| 1983 | 54.46 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 1984 | 58.52 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 1985 | 65.05 terawatt-hours | +11.2% |
| 1986 | 63.85 terawatt-hours | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 59.42 terawatt-hours | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 68.34 terawatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 1989 | 76.51 terawatt-hours | +12.0% |
| 1990 | 71.48 terawatt-hours | -6.6% |
| 1991 | 75.78 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 83.12 terawatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 1993 | 95.07 terawatt-hours | +14.4% |
| 1994 | 95.26 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 95.64 terawatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 100.36 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 105.33 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 108.14 terawatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 104.75 terawatt-hours | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 94.97 terawatt-hours | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 99.63 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 98.97 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 99.38 terawatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 94.14 terawatt-hours | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 98.55 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 93.55 terawatt-hours | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 82.71 terawatt-hours | -11.6% |
| 2008 | 74.43 terawatt-hours | -10.0% |
| 2009 | 94.34 terawatt-hours | +26.7% |
| 2010 | 88.32 terawatt-hours | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 104.18 terawatt-hours | +18.0% |
| 2012 | 111.65 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 123.82 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 128.26 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 153.7 terawatt-hours | +19.8% |
| 2016 | 154.74 terawatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 169.23 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 175.2 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 175.92 terawatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 183.87 terawatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 168.59 terawatt-hours | -8.3% |
| 2022 | 182.46 terawatt-hours | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 176.27 terawatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 184.51 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2025 | 188.3 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 188.3 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.82 terawatt-hours, 19.2× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 188.3 terawatt-hours is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 19.21 terawatt-hours, 9.8× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity generation from low-carbon sources in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | +248.4% | 0.0313 terawatt-hours | 0.1089 terawatt-hours |
| 1929 | +135.3% | 0.1371 terawatt-hours | 0.3227 terawatt-hours |
| 1926 | +106.7% | 0.0151 terawatt-hours | 0.0313 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.0679 terawatt-hours | 0.0101 terawatt-hours | 0.3227 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.6436 terawatt-hours | 0.3328 terawatt-hours | 0.9963 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.06 terawatt-hours | 0.7251 terawatt-hours | 1.34 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.76 terawatt-hours | 1.7 terawatt-hours | 5.42 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.19 terawatt-hours | 6.49 terawatt-hours | 32.38 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1970s | 36.65 terawatt-hours | 30.55 terawatt-hours | 43.98 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 57.8 terawatt-hours | 40.98 terawatt-hours | 76.51 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 93.49 terawatt-hours | 71.48 terawatt-hours | 108.14 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 93.07 terawatt-hours | 74.43 terawatt-hours | 99.63 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 138.5 terawatt-hours | 88.32 terawatt-hours | 175.92 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 180.67 terawatt-hours | 168.59 terawatt-hours | 188.3 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from low-carbon sources in United Kingdom?
- Electricity generation from low-carbon sources in United Kingdom was 188.3 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from low-carbon sources recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 188.3 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from low-carbon sources recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0101 terawatt-hours in 1920.
- How does United Kingdom rank for electricity generation from low-carbon sources?
- United Kingdom ranks 12th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from low-carbon sources rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from low-carbon sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 106 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours. Low-carbon sources correspond to renewables and nuclear power, that produce significantly less greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. Renewables include solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal, wave, and tidal.